Sichuan-style Water-Boiled Dumplings in Red Oil

Sheri Wetherell

Ingredients

Spiced Soy Sauce:

Adapted from Land of Plenty: A Treasury of Authentic Sichuan Cooking

Makes about ⅔ cup

⅓ cup Chinese dark soy sauce

⅔ cup water

5 tablespoons brown sugar

2-inch piece of cinnamon

1 star anise

½ teaspoon fennel seeds

½ teaspoon Sichuan peppercorns

1-inch piece of ginger, peeled and grated

For the Fried Shallot Chili Oil (Hong You):

Adapted from The Mala Project

(This makes a much larger batch than you will need for this recipe. Store the remainder in a jar in your pantry).

2 cups canola oil

½ cup coarsely ground Sichuan chili flakes (Korean coarse red pepper powder used for kimchi also works)

⅓ cup shallots, minced

1 tablespoon ground, roasted Sichuan pepper

½ teaspoon kosher salt

¼ cup toasted sesame oil

For the dumplings:

Flour, for dusting

4 tbsp toasted sesame oil

1 lb. ground lean pork

1 1/2 cups chives, finely chopped

1 cup shiitake mushrooms, finely chopped

1 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. salt

1⁄2 tsp. white pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground, roasted Sichuan pepper

1⁄2 tsp. grated ginger

30 (4 1⁄2") round wonton wrappers

Preparation

Make the Concocted Soy Sauce:

Combine all concocted soy sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and bringing to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and stir occasionally until it has reduced and become syrupy, about 20 minutes. Allow to cool, then strain into a container and set aside.

Make the Fried Shallot Chili Oil:

Put chili flakes, Sichuan pepper and salt in a heat-proof glass pint jar with a tight-fitting lid. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium-high until it begins to shimmer or when a bit a water sizzles when it hits the oil. Add the shallots to the oil and fry until they are golden brown. Once browned, immediately pour into the jar of chili flakes using a wide-mouthed funnel. Gently stir to mix the ingredients and allow to cool. Once cooled, add the sesame oil and stir to combine.

Prepare the dumplings:

Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and sprinkle with flour; set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine sesame oil, pork, chives, shiitake mushrooms, cornstarch, salt, pepper, Sichuan pepper powder, and ginger and stir to combine.

Working with one wrapper at a time, put a tablespoon of pork filling onto a wrapper, fold wrapper in half, seal with water, and pleat into a crescent shape. Transfer each dumpling to the baking sheet and cover with a damp tea towel.

Meanwhile, bring a 5-quart pot of water to a boil. Working in batches, boil dumplings until the filling is cooked through, about 8 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer dumplings to a platter or individual serving bowls. Top with the concocted soy sauce and garnish with the Lao Gan Ma Chili Oil and green onions.

Serve hot.